The team extended the invites, reaching out to representatives of the area’s animal welfare groups, one week after signing dogfighting felonMichael Vick. Vick was not at the meeting (since he’s not part of the management team) but Eagles President Joe Banner was and that seemed to buy a lot of goodwill.

For those who are still not aware, Michael Vick on the other hand is the guy who not only fought dogs, but threw family pets into the pit for fun, and laughed while they were suffering “major injury.” He’s the guy who killed dogs in a variety of ways – one last time: hanging, drowning, shooting, repeatedly slamming their head and spine into the ground until dead, and electrocuting with jumper cables attached to their ears before being thrown into his pool. So no, not even a regular kind of dog-fighter, but an over-the-top, especially sadistic kind of man.

The 60 minutes interview did not show a man healed, it showed a man that could still not face his own demons, much as he tried to make it appear that he had. All but once he referred to the dogs as animals, because hey, they’re just animals right?

Several times he spoke of what he let happen to the animals … because these thing just happened and hey, shit happens right? And in reference to losing his money, the one and only time he finally referred to killin,’ and dogs as dogs,(due to Jim Brown’s prodding)he spoke in the third person: “Why would a guy making thirty million and then on the flip side killin’ dogs or doin’ the wrong things…they don’t deserve it.”They.

Now, according to Wayne Pacelle of HSUS, Michael Vick is The Man Who Needs No Introduction when it comes time for him to speak to youth about the evils of dogfighting. Apparently the kids in Chicago were on the edge of their seats while watching their hero. Now was that because they were so excited about learning to not fight their animals, or because of Vick’s celebrity status? These are kids from the ghetto who have literally nothing to lose who learned that Vick, the dogfighter, who hadeverything to lose and seemingly lost it all, is now once again a millionaire who’s back in the game.

Just what have these kids learned?

Another question – what has Philadelphia learned? Apparently, it’s that offering ‘shut up’ money to animal welfare groups is a good way to clean up their tarnished image, and make all this bad press go away.

Will I blame the animal welfare groups for taking the money? I don’t know. I don’t know if I like the mental image I get of them taking big piles of cash that are stained with the blood of all those dogs. I don’t know if I can shake that image. BadRap, who are better people than I am, and have worlds more right to comment on this situation, think that shelters should take the money and run, and get some good out of this whole thing. They’re probably right.

For me, though, there’s only acceptable outcome for this whole situation – fire the bastard. Well, that or tie him to a battery and throw him into a deep, deep pool with very slick sides. Some crimes, some evils, perhaps even some people are just not forgivable.

Firing is too good for him, I vote for the second option. It’s a disgrace and you’re right it tells us that some people care more about sports than living breathing creatures.
The Eagles should be ashamed, but it’s all about the mighty dollar. Even if you wanted to go to the game with protest signs and boo when he’s on the field. You still have to pay admission and that’s what it’s all about.
He’ll get his eventually what goes around comes around. Aren’t there dogs guarding the gates to hell?

I just want to puke when I read Vick’s defenders. “He did his time.” “He paid more than most human murderers pay.” “He has a right to make a living.” “You people are crazy, you value animals over human life.” “They’re just dogs.” “Everybody deserves a second chance.”

I’ll say it again. Whatever photographs, physical evidence, recorded witness statements exist about the depraved, sick shit this sadist did for years and years, should be spread all over the airwaves, plastered in the press. Show people pictures of dogs that have survived dog fights — and haven’t. Drive home the reality of who they are cheering for, whose paycheck they are paying. That it isn’t “just a dog,” it’s vicious, amoral, soulless torturer whose next victim could easily be human.

I am jaded enough that it doesn’t surprise me that his sins are so readily forgiven by fans and the NFL. Money money money win win win. Who cares if you’re represented by a monster? He did the time that he couldn’t plea bargain away with his really expensive lawyers. He may have “the right” to make a living, but I think it’s disgusting that somebody chose to hire him.
.-= Katie´s last blog ..How not to teach contacts. =-.